Found at the Kentucky Historical Society in
Bourbon Co. KY file in 1975

PLESANT GREEN

Kentuckian Citizen, Paris KY March 16, 1898

REMINISCENCES

Plesant Green Church, Bourbon County, Ky

Miss Tucker, of Boston, now visiting here,
asked us to copy this letter from scrap book her cousin, Mrs
Renaker, of Cynthiana, has and also to copy from our back files
some writing of Perry Tucker and others, but some one will have
to tell us where in our files we can find the articles:

The almost hallowed spot, known as “Pleasant
Green” situated on Townsend Creek in the lower or Northern part
of Bourbon County near the line dividing it from Bourbon County
Ky has many traditions, recollections and associations
clustering about it which I have long desired time to speak of
as they deserve. These I feel assured would be interesting to
many of the descendant of those who planted and nurtured
Methodism in the neighborhood of “Pleasant Green Chapel”as well
as others whose ancestors resided in that part of Bourbon three
quarters of a century ago. Such traditions and recollections
would if given, constitute such a part of the innocent
curiosity, if it does not prove instructive and edifying. But
necessary brevity compels me to confine this communication to
almost a mere recital of names and dates.

As early as the year 1784, three brothers,
William, John and Alexander Tucker, accompanied by their aged
father, Edward tucker, and Solomon Hoggins, emigrated from
Maryland, near Baltimore, to Kentucky and settled in what is now
the Pleasant Green neighborhood. They and their wives were
Methodists. Here they planted Methodism, which for half a
century had a greater moral influence than that of any other
religious denomination in that locality. They were men who by
their intelligence, industry and exemplary conduct proved the
sincerity of their religious zeal and recommended the
peculiarity of their faith to the notice of a respectable
community. I here will give the names of the children of these
pioneers of Methodism, as I am able and also of some others who
became leading member o the church of Pleasant Green from about
year 1817 or 1818 and who honored their profession.

The sons Wm. Tucker (one of the three brothers),
now 80 years of age, residing near Dry Ridge, Grant County, KY;
John B Tucker, who died at his residence near Pleasant Green
many years ago; and Samuel Tucker, who I think died in Bourbon.
The sons of John Tucker (one of the three brothers) were Thomas,
Samuel, and Rev. Elias Tucker, who died some years ago at his
residence in Bourbon; Joseph who lies buried in the cemetery in
Covington; Edward, John, William, and Absolom. The sons of
Alexander Tucker (one of the three brothers) were Aquilla and
Greenberry, and a daughter Cynthia, who married first Nelson
Dills after his death, Wesley Dills. Rev. Wm. Tucker’s first
wife, the mother of all his children was Elizabeth Day, of
Harrison or Bourbon and I think John B Tuckers wife was her
sister. I do not know whether or not Samuel ever married. Rev.
William Tucker’s children are residing in Grant, Gallatin and
Boone. His brother John’s are I believe living in Bourbon and
Harrison. I understand that he wife of Dr. Beale, of Cynthiana,
is one of his daughters. Whether these Maryland Tuckers were
related to the Virginia tuckers I do not know. The children of
Solomon Hoggins are Mrs Eleanor Hodgson, now residing with her
son in law, Dr. G D Lewis, Dry ridge, Grant County; Mrs Dulia ?
Kirby, wife of Enoch Kirby, near Warsaw KY; William Hoggins of
Gallatin, and John and Wesley Hoggins of Covington, whose
descendants are all respectable citizens.

The Methodist society of Pleasant Green, before
the chapel was built in 1817 worshiped in the private houses,
hold annual camp meetings near Townsend, and sometimes near the
site where the chapel now stands, and increased in numbers and
influence. In 1818 “the great Pleasant Green revival” occurred.
This had a very powerful effect upon the whole surrounding
community. Some of the names of those who were members at that
time or who united with the church at that “revival” or who
participated in it were Rev. Wm. Tucker, Rev. Elias Tucker, John
B Tucker, William Tucker, son of Jonathan Tucker, a cousin to
the three brothers, Eleanor Hoggins, Dilla ? Hoggins, Elizabeth
Tucker, wife of Rev. William Tucker, John B Tuckers wife, Joseph
Tucker, his wife formerly Polly Hutchinson, daughter of James
Hutchinson of Bourbon, George Rymal, Nancy Berry wife of William
Tucker, son of Jonathan, Elizabeth Berry, daughter of Basil
Berry himself and wife Rhoda and Thomas Amos of Ruddles Mill.
Richard Craddock and wife united with the church a few years
later. Colonel Givens and wife had been preeminent member of the
Presbyterian Church but she been a true Christian, cared little
for the sect and readily followed her second husband to the
church of his choice. Mr Craddock I think, had lately emigrated
from the Green River country, had been the owner of the Mammoth
Cave and surrounding territory, but lately married Mrs Givens,
widow of Col. John Givens, who represented Harrison county in
the lower House, in or about the year 1816 having for his
colleague, Major William K Wall. Nearly everyone of the above

mentioned persons I knew personally, and can
testify that a better class of people is seldom, if ever,
found. It was my privilege to visit the Pleasant Green Chapel
often, in the capacity of an humble minister. There I met with
and enjoyed the society of these men and women and their
interesting families. May of their names and features I can not
recall, but some were indelibly impressed upon my mind. Time
seems to have passed away like a dream, the children of those
who a few year ago were a living power in the church at Pleasant
Green, have grown to manhood and womanhood, and became
respectable and influential member of society; their fathers and
mothers have gone to their homes. The voices of ministers are
hushed forever, or becoming silenced by age. The eloquent and
zealous John Ray and the past are present to my mind and live in
my memory; and I would inform the editor of the True Kentuckian
that among the old men and women who worshiped at Pleasant Green
the memory of none more cherished than that of his parents,
among all the boys who gave respectful attention to my feeble
ministrations at Pleasant Green none have fixed themselves more
deeply in my mind and heart than John G Craddock and his sister
Anna. She having graduated in earthly schools and in the
visible church, has gone up to the fountain of knowledge and
bliss and to be forever a member of the church triumphant,
whither her beloved father and excellent mother have gone; while
her brother is engaged ostensibly in intellectual titls and
political tournaments. My purpose is that this shall be
preliminary to one or more communications in regard to the
people who have historical character and importance to Pleasant
Green; for I must say, I have overlooked too many whose names
ought to appear and have, by no means, satisfactorily spoken of

the excellence of the associations and
recollections of Pleasant Green, when friendships had and heart
made me feel welcome to it people , and when their partiality
was far greater than any merit I ever possessed as a preacher or
Christian.

B. N. Carter

Williamstown, KY July 22, 1869

Miss Kate Edgar, County School Superintendent
gave the Kentuckian Citizens the following and asked us to get
other facts from Mr. C Alexander, Sr. and others. Mr. Alexander
had pleasant memories of attending school at Pleasan5t Green,
Miss Edgar writes;

Pleasant Green church (Methodist) was organized
in 1785 or 90. It was built of logs. A brick church was built
on same spot in 1847. (Mistake 1849). Berry, Tucker, Batterton,
Sherman, and Rymal are some of the names of first members. The
church building is gone but many interesting items are gathered
from the tombstones in the old graveyard. Mrs Sherman stone
shows that she was 108 years of age at the time of death.
(mistake only 98) Capt. Moore’s grandmother was buried there.
Immense congregations gathered at the old brick church. Revival
meetings and basket dinners there were the order of the day from
1815 to 1820. A continuous school has been taught in the
schoolhouse nearby for more than 100 years. It has lately been
enlarged and painted. An artesian well has been bored which
treats the pupils to the sulphur water. Mr. Jas. Patterson who
recently died, over 80 years of age, went to school at Pleasant
Green also Prof. N F (?) Smith, of Cynthiana, a prominent
educator. Teachers were paid from $1,00 to $1,200. The cemetery
and school house which had been in the common, have been
enclosed. The location is in Townsend Valley, near Bourbon and
Harrison lines.

NOTES

W. K. Griffith, Jr. who owns the
Sherman place, has given us the records from tombstones in
Pleasant Green as follows;

And a number of other tombstones of Berrys,
Tuckers, Allons of equally as old dates.

Mr. Sherman in his will left that the negroes
after Mrs Sherman’s death, were all who were over 35 ears old to
be free and others as they became 35. Bonsom Roberts who had
bought here interest in the slaves sold them south in 57. Will
Roberts putting forty on train at Shawhan. They were bringing
suit for freedom when Lincoln set all free. Some of them
returned to Kentucky and one is wealthy at Cynthiana.

We asked Mrs Dr. Cannon, nee Berry, if we were
not correct in thinking we worshiped in the old log church with
its box pulpit until we went to Mexican War in 1847. She
replied”Yes, my record shows the brick church was built in
1849”.

There is now a regular Sunday school at
Pleasant Green schoolhouse with 67 scholars and Rev (?) Kidwell
preaches there regularly. Mrs. Sherman’s maiden name was
Russell. She was grandaunt of Will H Roberts of Paris.